Print medium with one side defined by a rib-like structure

ABSTRACT

A print medium includes a planar film. A rib-like structure is arranged on one side of the film to define a series of columns that extend a length of the film to facilitate rolling of the print medium in one direction as opposed to an opposite direction.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/442,182, filed on May 30, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,499, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/072,530, filed on Mar. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,940 which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/853,184 filed May 26, 2004 now granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,913,875, which is a Continuation in Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/274,118 filed Oct. 21, 2002, now granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,874, which is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/112,744, filed on Jul. 10, 1998, now granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,052, all of which are herein incorporated by reference. The following Australian provisional patent applications are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. For the purposes of location and identification, U.S. patents/patent applications identified by their U.S. patent/patent application serial numbers are listed alongside the Australian applications from which the U.S. patents/patent applications claim the right of priority.

CROSS- REFERENCED US PATENT/PATENT AUSTRALIAN APPLICATION (CLAIMING PROVISIONAL RIGHT OF PRIORITY PATENT FROM AUSTRALIAN APPLICATION NO. PROVISIONAL APPLICATION) PO7991 6750901 PO8505 6476863 PO7988 6788336 PO9395 6322181 PO8017 6597817 PO8014 6227648 PO8025 6727948 PO8032 6690419 PO7999 6727951 PO8030 6196541 PO7997 6195150 PO7979 6362868 PO7978 6831681 PO7982 6431669 PO7989 6362869 PO8019 6472052 PO7980 6356715 PO8018 6894694 PO7938 6636216 PO8016 6366693 PO8024 6329990 PO7939 6459495 PO8501 6137500 PO8500 6690416 PO7987 7050143 PO8022 6398328 PO8497 7110024 PO8020 6431704 PO8504 6879341 PO8000 6415054 PO7934 6665454 PO7990 6542645 PO8499 6486886 PO8502 6381361 PO7981 6317192 PO7986 6850274 PO7983 09/113054 PO8026 6646757 PO8028 6624848 PO9394 6357135 PO9397 6271931 PO9398 6353772 PO9399 6106147 PO9400 6665008 PO9401 6304291 PO9403 6305770 PO9405 6289262 PP0959 6315200 PP1397 6217165 PP2370 6786420 PO8003 6350023 PO8005 6318849 PO8066 6227652 PO8072 6213588 PO8040 6213589 PO8071 6231163 PO8047 6247795 PO8035 6394581 PO8044 6244691 PO8063 6257704 PO8057 6416168 PO8056 6220694 PO8069 6257705 PO8049 6247794 PO8036 6234610 PO8048 6247793 PO8070 6264306 PO8067 6241342 PO8001 6247792 PO8038 6264307 PO8033 6254220 PO8002 6234611 PO8068 6302528 PO8062 6283582 PO8034 6239821 PO8039 6338547 PO8041 6247796 PO8004 6557977 PO8037 6390603 PO8043 6362843 PO8042 6293653 PO8064 6312107 PO9389 6227653 PO9391 6234609 PP0888 6238040 PP0891 6188415 PP0890 6227654 PP0873 6209989 PP0993 6247791 PP0890 6336710 PP1398 6217153 PP2592 6416167 PP2593 6243113 PP3991 6283581 PP3987 6247790 PP3985 6260953 PP3983 6267469 PO7935 6224780 PO7936 6235212 PO7937 6280643 PO8061 6284147 PO8054 6214244 PO8065 6071750 PO8055 6267905 PO8053 6251298 PO8078 6258285 PO7933 6225138 PO7950 6241904 PO7949 6299786 PO8060 6866789 PO8059 6231773 PO8073 6190931 PO8076 6248249 PO8075 6290862 PO8079 6241906 PO8050 6565762 PO8052 6241905 PO7948 6451216 PO7951 6231772 PO8074 6274056 PO7941 6290861 PO8077 6248248 PO8058 6306671 PO8051 6331258 PO8045 6110754 PO7952 6294101 PO8046 6416679 PO9390 6264849 PO9392 6254793 PP0889 6235211 PP0887 6491833 PP0882 6264850 PP0874 6258284 PP1396 6312615 PP3989 6228668 PP2591 6180427 PP3990 6171875 PP3986 6267904 PP3984 6245247 PP3982 6315914 PP0895 6231148 PP0869 6293658 PP0887 6614560 PP0885 6238033 PP0884 6312070 PP0886 6238111 PP0877 6378970 PP0878 6196739 PP0883 6270182 PP0880 6152619 PO8006 6087638 PO8007 6340222 PO8010 6041600 PO8011 6299300 PO7947 6067797 PO7944 6286935 PO7946 6044646 PP0894 6382769

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses an anisotropic media—ridged/fibre.

The present invention relates to print media and discloses a process of treatment so as to reduce the likelihood of “curling” in print media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, it has become more and more popular in respect of photographic reproduction techniques to produce longer and longer “panoramic” views of an image. These images can be produced on photographic paper or the like and the structure of the image is normally to have longer and longer lengths in comparison to the width so as to produce the more “panoramic” type views.

Unfortunately, this imposes a problem where the photographic paper to be imaged upon originally was stored on a roll of small diameter.

For example, referring to FIG. 1, the print media upon which an image is to be printed can be stored on a small roll 3 for an indefinite period of time. The storage on the roll 3 can often impart a semi-permanent “curl” to the paper 4. Subsequently, a portion of the roll 3 is unrolled as required and an image 5 is deposited on the media by means of printing and/or photographic imaging. The print media with its image 5 is normally held in place by means of rollers so as to ensure an accurate, flat, plane surface is provided for any imaging device utilising the print media. At a subsequent phase of the processing the print media is normally cut into desired length and stacked in a “sheet” form 6.

However, when the print media is stored for long periods of time in a tightly curled roll, the print media 4 can take on a memory characteristic due to being curled around roller 3 for the extended period of time. Hence, images produced utilizing this process can often include an unwanted curl 7 consequential upon being tightly curled around roll 3. This is generally an undesirable characteristic. Of course, one way to overcome this problem is to increase the circumference of roll 3 and to thereby flatten the circumference of any paper roll around the roll 3. However, increasing the circumference of roll 3 is not desirable should it be required to include the roll 3 in a portable hand held type camera device. The portable nature of such a device requires as small a roll 3 as possible thereby leading to increasing levels of curl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a form of print media having reduced curl characteristics.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a print roll for a digital camera with inbuilt printhead, the print roll comprising:

a roll of print media having a surface on which the printhead can print an image captured by the digital camera; wherein,

the print media incorporates fibers configured such that the media has a stiffness in a first direction that exceeds the stiffness in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Preferably, the fibers are extruded polymer strands.

Preferably, the print media is formed by adhering the strands to one side of a paper substrate.

Preferably, the print media is formed by sandwiching the strands between two paper substrates.

Preferably, the strands are configured substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a method of creation of images on print media;

FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A illustrate the structure of the print media constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates utilization of the print media constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A illustrate a first form of construction of print media in accordance with the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a further form of construction of print media in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate schematic cross-sectional views of a further form of construction of print media in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates one form of manufacture of the print media construction in accordance with FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative form of manufacture by extruding fibrous material for utilization with the arrangement of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the print media to be stored in a tightly rolled form is processed to have an anisotropic ribbed structure which allows the print media to be suitable for carriage in a roll form but further allows for the anisotropic rib structure to be utilized when viewing images printed on the print media so as to reduce the extent of curling of the print media.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a sheet 10 of print media 11 as treated in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The sheet 10 is preferably constructed of a plastic planar film although other forms of film 11 would be suitable. The sheet 10 is pre-treated to have a polymer rib-like structure 12 shown in FIG. 2 in an exaggerated form with the actual column pitch being approximately 200 μm. Hence, one surface of the sheet 10 is treated so as to have a series of columns e.g. 12 running up and down the length of the sheet 10, the cross-section of the column 12 being illustrated in an enlarged form in FIG. 2 a.

The advantage of utilizing the series of columns or ribs 12 is evident when a force 13 is applied to a portion of the surface area of the sheet 10. The column 12, although allowing the sheet 10 to be rolled tightly, resists any rolling of the sheet 10 in the direction 16. Hence, any force applied 13 is likely to be transmitted both in directions 15 and 16. The anisotropic nature of the sheet 10 will result in the ribs 12 acting to provide support both in directions 15 and 16 thereby limiting the curl of sheet 10. The resistance is primarily due to the resistance of ribs 12 from any bending in the direction 16. The anisotropic strength of the material also allows it to be stored on a roll with the greater strength axis being along the central axis of the roll.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the image on sheet 10 can then be viewed, with reduced effects due to curling, by merely holding the sheet 10 in a user's hands 20, 21 and applying subtle pressure at points 24, 25. The application of pressure at points 24, 25 is transmitted throughout the sheet 10 thereby providing a flat viewing surface with limited curling.

Of course, the anisotropic media can be produced utilizing a number of techniques where the media comprises a plastic type material. For example, it could be produced by methods of extrusion. Alternatively, other techniques can be utilized. For example, one form of production 40 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4 and relies upon the media 41 being pressed between rollers 42, 43. The roller 43 has a flat surface with the roller 42 having a serrated surface 45 as illustrated in FIG. 4 a. The dimensions of the serration are exaggerated in FIG. 4 for illustrative purposes.

Where the media is unsuitable for utilization in such a process 40, the anisotropic media can be provided by utilizing two film surfaces joined together. Such a process 50 is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein a first surface 51 upon which it is desired to print an image is mated with a second surface 52 by means of glue, heat fusion etc. as required.

Furthermore, other forms of manufacture of the print media 11 are possible. For example, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the construction of print media 60 is shown in cross-section and could be constructed from a first fibrous material 61 which can comprise strong polymer based fibres constructed from annealed polyethylene napthalate drawn into a fibrous form. A second heat flowable polymer 62 which can comprise polyethylene is utilized to provide the “paper” base for the carriage of ink/imaging chemicals. The media polymer 62 can be compressed with the fibrous material 61 while still in a viscous form (for example, after being heated) so that the fibre 61 and print base 62 form one integral unit as illustrated in FIG. 7. The arrangement of FIGS. 6 and 7 can be constructed in accordance with a number of techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a first such technique which utilizes pre-formed spools e.g. 80 of fibrous material, the number of spools and corresponding fibres 81 being equivalent in number to the length of the desired print roll. The spools 80 are ranged such that corresponding fibres 81 are fed over a first roller 82. The fibres 81 are then drawn past a print media application unit 84 which applies the layer of viscous heated print media to the fibres. Subsequently, rollers 85, 86 apply the necessary pressure to the fibres and print media so as to fuse the two together and flatten the surface of the print media so as to form a final anisotropic surface 88. Subsequently, the surface 88 is cut across its width and rolled to form anisotropic print media as hereinbefore described.

Of course, alternative forms of creating the fibrous material on demand are possible. For example, in FIG. 9, there is illustrated one form of creating an extruded fibrous material by means of drawing fibre e.g. 91 from a vat 90, the arrangement of FIG. 9 designed to replace the need for spools 80 of FIG. 8.

It would be obvious to those skilled in a the art that other forms of forming the anisotropic surface may be possible, the foregoing describing only a number of embodiments. Further modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made to the composition and structure of the anisotropic print media without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed in the following claims. 

1. A cut sheet print medium that comprises an opaque planar film; and a rib-like structure arranged on one side of the film to define a series of columns that extend a length of the film to facilitate rolling of the film in one direction as opposed to an opposite direction and to provide a flat print viewing surface.
 2. A print medium as claimed in claim 1, in which the planar film is of a plastics material.
 3. A print medium as claimed in claim 2, in which the rib-like, structure is of a polymeric material.
 4. A print medium as claimed in 1, in which the pitch of the columns is approximately 200 micrometers.
 5. A print medium as claimed in claim 1, which is the product of a roller-pressing operation between a pair of rollers, one of the rollers having a smooth surface and the other having a serrated surface.
 6. A print medium as claimed in claim 1, which is the product of two film surfaces joined together.
 7. A print medium as claimed in claim 1, which is the product of a first fibrous material of polymer based fibers and a polymer base connected together using heat and pressure. 